‘A few steps away’, operation to rescue workers trapped in Uttarakhand tunnel reaches final stage

According to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) member Lt General (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain, horizontal drilling operations may face many difficulties to rescue trapped workers. Hasnain stressed that given the unpredictable and challenging nature of the task, it would be unwise to predict a time frame for rescue operations.

Hasnain further said that 41 ambulances (one for each trapped worker) have been deployed at the tunnel site, and arrangements have been made to airlift seriously injured workers. As soon as the workers come out, they will be provided with proper medical assistance.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Director General Atul Karwal told news agency PTI that the 41 workers trapped under the collapsed tunnel will be pulled out on one-wheeled stretchers through a large pipe, which is yet to be reached. Drilling is being done. However, the drilling work has now stopped.

Karawal said the NDRF personnel will go in through the pipes and once they reach the workers, they will use stretchers to send the workers out one by one. Each worker will be placed on the stretcher carefully, to protect their body from scratches on the metal of the welded pipe below, while the NDRF personnel will skillfully pull the stretcher upwards with a rope.

News of an earthquake amid rescue operations also increased public concern, but Hasnain said, “There were reports of possible earthquakes that were very low on the Richter scale. However, when the earthquake struck, it was not visible. Most people.” It did not feel.

Central and state governments are working together to carry out these rescue operations. Union Minister General VK Singh (retd) also reached the spot on Thursday. He along with some senior officials reached the Silkyara tunnel and also took a report on the rescue operation of the workers.

However, the rescue operation suffered a setback when a metal object known as a mesh girder rib blocked the rescue pipe from moving forward. At 2:30 a.m., gas cutters were deployed to remove the metal barrier, so the pipe could be lifted.

The government has implemented a five-tier action plan to rescue stranded workers. Five agencies are involved: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Sutlej Hydropower Corporation, Rail Development Corporation, National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation and Tehri Hydro Development Corporation. Each agency is assigned specific responsibilities.

Located about 30 km from Uttarkashi and seven hours from Dehradun, the Silkyara Tunnel is an integral part of the Central Government’s Char Dham All Weather Road Project. After the Uttarkashi tunnel tragedy, the Road and Transport Ministry has decided to conduct a safety audit of 29 tunnels being built across the country. An agreement has been made with Konkan Railway Corporation Limited for this.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also taking information from Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami about the ongoing operation to rescue the workers trapped in the tunnel. PM Modi has spoken to Chief Minister CM Dhami several times. CM Dhami said that Prime Minister Modi had called to inquire about the ongoing rescue operation to safely evacuate the workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel.